Kansas State University Athletics
SE: K-State’s Terrell Smith Surprises Himself at USATF Championships, Earns Team USA Spot for NACAC Championships
Jul 04, 2018 | Track & Field, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
As fitting as it may be for July 4, Terrell Smith is not going to wear his silver medal from the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships on America's birthday.
"That's a good idea," Smith laughed, before laying out his actual plan for the unexpected 200-meter medal he earned on June 24 against the country's best sprinters. "I'm going to put it in a case with my jersey. It will remind me of my stepping stones and remind me to keep moving forward, regardless if I think I can do it or not."
After finishing up his K-State career at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Smith went into the pinnacle USATF event expecting it to be his last competition ever. Truthfully, he debated not even going. He did, obviously, and his plans changed in the matter of a few days.
Smith ran a time of 20.80 in the first round of the 200 meters, advancing him to the semifinals. There, he finished in 20.44 to best his school-record time of 20.51 and move on to the final round. When he crossed the finish line in the finale, only 2016 Olympian Ameer Webb's time was faster.
Along with the coveted medal, Smith's second-place performance at his second USATF meet earned him an opportunity he's always wanted: to represent his country at an international meet. The four-time All-American at K-State earned a spot on Team USA for the 2018 NACAC Championships on August 10-12 in Toronto, Canada.
"It gave me a lot of confidence and it brought me a lot of joy. I've been at practice with a smile on my face," he said. "I went in there thinking, 'Hey, I'm just here to enjoy myself.' I didn't know if I was going to get out of the first round, let alone to the finals and place second. It was amazing. I was so ready to hang up my shoes and take a step forward to my next life, and I didn't realize what I already had in my hand."
As Smith was handed the silver medal and stood on the podium at Drake Stadium, his mind began to race.
"'How in the world does this 'Cat from Mississippi make it this far?'" Smith recalled thinking first. "I think I was the person there with the least amount of accolades."
Next, he said he thought of the mentors and people who invested in him along his journey.
"I was thinking how so many people have helped me over the years, from my high school years, junior high years, all the way until my college years to get me to this position," he said, "what I had to go through and how significant certain people are in my life."
In terms of people at K-State, Smith named Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto. Smith said he developed a "great bond" with his coach and appreciated always receiving a "realistic perspective" about his potential.
"My coach never doubted me; that's a great thing," Smith said. "He never said I couldn't do anything. He always said I can compete with the best. Never once have I heard him say anything less than that."
Smith also named Cori Pinkett, K-State's former director of student-athlete development, as someone who had a "great impact" on his life. Former Wildcat sprinters Carlos Rodriguez and Jeffrey Julmis, Smith said, helped accelerate his progress on the track.
"Those two had a great impact on me my freshman year and taught me the basis of what track is, especially Carlos," Smith said. "Jeff's enthusiasm for the sport and also his very technical knowledge helped me a great deal to develop my knowledge. Those are some key people who helped me move forward."
While there are too many to name, Smith said his K-State teammates always believed in his abilities to do more than he thought he could. The USATF Championships was proof they were right.
"My teammates, whether I recognized it or not, always knew I had greatness in me. They demonstrate that every day and tell me that all the time," he said. "I appreciate them for that."
Smith's appreciation for K-State was cemented before the life-changing meet. But the native of Vicksburg, Mississippi, said it was fitting he was able to accomplish the feat in a Wildcat jersey.
"K-State was one of the first schools to recruit me," Smith said. "The athletic department has treated me like a family. My K-State teachers have always showed me love and compassion, so to do it in a family atmosphere makes it feel like home. Every time you step into the blocks you know you're representing your family."
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As fitting as it may be for July 4, Terrell Smith is not going to wear his silver medal from the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships on America's birthday.
"That's a good idea," Smith laughed, before laying out his actual plan for the unexpected 200-meter medal he earned on June 24 against the country's best sprinters. "I'm going to put it in a case with my jersey. It will remind me of my stepping stones and remind me to keep moving forward, regardless if I think I can do it or not."
After finishing up his K-State career at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Smith went into the pinnacle USATF event expecting it to be his last competition ever. Truthfully, he debated not even going. He did, obviously, and his plans changed in the matter of a few days.
Smith ran a time of 20.80 in the first round of the 200 meters, advancing him to the semifinals. There, he finished in 20.44 to best his school-record time of 20.51 and move on to the final round. When he crossed the finish line in the finale, only 2016 Olympian Ameer Webb's time was faster.
Along with the coveted medal, Smith's second-place performance at his second USATF meet earned him an opportunity he's always wanted: to represent his country at an international meet. The four-time All-American at K-State earned a spot on Team USA for the 2018 NACAC Championships on August 10-12 in Toronto, Canada.
"It gave me a lot of confidence and it brought me a lot of joy. I've been at practice with a smile on my face," he said. "I went in there thinking, 'Hey, I'm just here to enjoy myself.' I didn't know if I was going to get out of the first round, let alone to the finals and place second. It was amazing. I was so ready to hang up my shoes and take a step forward to my next life, and I didn't realize what I already had in my hand."
As Smith was handed the silver medal and stood on the podium at Drake Stadium, his mind began to race.
"'How in the world does this 'Cat from Mississippi make it this far?'" Smith recalled thinking first. "I think I was the person there with the least amount of accolades."
Next, he said he thought of the mentors and people who invested in him along his journey.
"I was thinking how so many people have helped me over the years, from my high school years, junior high years, all the way until my college years to get me to this position," he said, "what I had to go through and how significant certain people are in my life."
In terms of people at K-State, Smith named Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto. Smith said he developed a "great bond" with his coach and appreciated always receiving a "realistic perspective" about his potential.
"My coach never doubted me; that's a great thing," Smith said. "He never said I couldn't do anything. He always said I can compete with the best. Never once have I heard him say anything less than that."
Smith also named Cori Pinkett, K-State's former director of student-athlete development, as someone who had a "great impact" on his life. Former Wildcat sprinters Carlos Rodriguez and Jeffrey Julmis, Smith said, helped accelerate his progress on the track.
"Those two had a great impact on me my freshman year and taught me the basis of what track is, especially Carlos," Smith said. "Jeff's enthusiasm for the sport and also his very technical knowledge helped me a great deal to develop my knowledge. Those are some key people who helped me move forward."
While there are too many to name, Smith said his K-State teammates always believed in his abilities to do more than he thought he could. The USATF Championships was proof they were right.
"My teammates, whether I recognized it or not, always knew I had greatness in me. They demonstrate that every day and tell me that all the time," he said. "I appreciate them for that."
Smith's appreciation for K-State was cemented before the life-changing meet. But the native of Vicksburg, Mississippi, said it was fitting he was able to accomplish the feat in a Wildcat jersey.
"K-State was one of the first schools to recruit me," Smith said. "The athletic department has treated me like a family. My K-State teachers have always showed me love and compassion, so to do it in a family atmosphere makes it feel like home. Every time you step into the blocks you know you're representing your family."
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